The Hindu Business Line : L&T bags Rs 1,245-cr Bhutan power project order

Mumbai, April 1 Engineering and construction company Larsen & Toubro has bagged a Rs 1,245-crore contract for construction of a dam package that is part of the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan.

The project, being set up by the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project Authority, will be across the Punatsangchhu river which is 80 km from Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. The project authority was constituted through an agreement between the Indian Government and the Royal Government of Bhutan.

Work involves construction of a diversion tunnel, dam, intake and de-silting arrangements, including hydro-mechanical works. WAPCOS Ltd is the engineering and design consultant of the project. The work is scheduled for completion in 66 months.

This is the first of a series of 10 hydropower projects jointly identified the two governments to achieve an installed capacity of 11,576 MW by 2020.

This is the second hydroelectric power project contract for L&T in Bhutan. The first was the 1020 MW Tala Hydroelectric Project, which has been completed. The project is to be executed by L&T’s construction division.

Hindustan Construction Company has also bagged a Rs 688.06-crore order for package MC3 (master package 3) of the hydroelectric project

HCC said the project involved construction of a head race tunnel (from the surge shaft end, including the surge shaft), powerhouse and tail race tunnel, as also hydro-mechanical work. The project is also slated for completion in 66 months.

Mr Vinayak Deshpande, President and Chief Operating Officer, HCC, said the company had recently completed the Tala power project, which is the largest hydroelectric project in Bhutan.

HCC has constructed the head race tunnel and surge shaft for India’s largest commissioned Nathpa Jhakri Hydro-Electric Project (1,500 MW) and the underground powerhouse and tunnel for the Chamera Hydro-Electric Power Project, Stage I.

The company is currently executing nine hydroelectric power projects – four in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Himachal Pradesh and one each in Uttarakhand, Sikkim and West Bengal.